Variety (Mar 1906)

10 VARIETY The Beach Amusement Company in Chi- cago had finally determined through lack vi financial support not to open ita park at the Lakeside there this summer. Eph Thompson's elephants have heen booked for the lngeraoll circuit for ten weeks, opening at Pittsbqrg on May 7. The interview of Frank Melville, the summer park manager and promoter (of the firm of Melville & Shultheiaer), which appeared in the last issue of Variety, called forth much comment during the week in park circles. One well informed park man said, in speaking to a repre- sentative of Variety, "Mr. Melville's in- terview was right and straight from the shoulder. He struck the nail precisely oq the head in speaking about bands and the attraction they have proven. Bands are a dead issue to summer amusement n sorts, other than as an incidental diver- sion. Patrons do not care to be held in one spot for the length of time necessary to hear a program. Vaudeville bills and other changeable forms of amusement are more attractive." To further illustrate his argument the park man cited the case of Sousa's Band when it played for George C. Tilyou at Atlantic City some four years ago. At that time George Young, who is the boss of the seaside resort, had determined that Tilyou should not have a footing there at any cost. Tilyou was at his wits' end and called upon Sousa for a price to play sixty-six days for him at his opposition place to Young's Pier. Sousa said $1,000 a day. Tilyou, not to l>e daunted at any figure, acceded and Sousa accepted the en- gagement, although knowing he had over- charged $150 a day, the bandmaster's cus- tomary price being $850 daily. The first day's taking of the engagement was $400. At the end of ten days Sousa offered to release Tilyou from the contract, but the latter indignantly spurned the offer, re- marking that he always lived up to his contracts. At the expiration of the en- gagement Sousa received $60,000 from Tilyou, who had lost $40,000 on the ven- ture, but was reimbursed to the extent of $10,000 by the bandmaster, who re- funded that amount, declining to accept in payment for the band's services more than the customary stipulated price. Til- you accepted the money only after Sousa had explained that the original price was set more in a spirit of banter than in the expectation that it would be accepted. The Starland Company, which has had a varied experience lately, will not enter New Bedford, Mass., as it hoped to do, not finding a suitable location there, and has about decided to go back to the scene of its first enterprise, Montreal. The company holds a leasehold in the Canadian city and will work night and day to open in due season to compete with Edward Dorsey's Dominion Park, now nearing completion in the same town, and which has the backing of the railroad compa- nies to further its chances of success. Toronto and Hamilton, Canada, are two likely cities which will probably receive attention from the park people before long. SUMMER PARKS sever*] years back. Kash promise* im- poitiblf of fulfillment and meagre secur- ity, together with the explosion of so many financial schemes including the sen- *,itional insurance disclosures have tended to keep capital from investing. Street railway companies, however, still view park projects with favor, although the usual limit placed by the transportation people varies, running from $50,000 to $100,000 I »r each resort. This is a limitation that the larger parks cannot entertain. •'Fire and Flames," which Manning & Armstrong are trying to promote, may be placed in Wonderland at Revere Beach. The final closing of negotiations has not vet reached a crisis. The appeal for sub- scriptions for this enterprise seemingly never reached further than Mr. Higgins, the treasurer of the Wonderland Company, whose name has a very lonesome resting place on the subscription book. Paragon Park at Nantasket Beach, near Boston, will add largely to its attractions, having had a very successful summer last vear. E. Meverhof at Eleventh street and Third avenue is the booking agent, while a Mr. Dodge is the manager. It is the intention to put up a stiff fight against the opposition at Revere Beach. A scenic production of "The Train Wieckers" will be shown this coming sum- mer at Dreamland, Coney Island; also at Luna Park in the same place. Both are claiming the credit for the scheme, while a young man from the South says it has been stolen from a published account of his own notion. It's all rather humorous when the truth of the matter is a similar attraction was offered as an open air show at Joliet, 111., some twenty years ago. Joliet was selected at that time to recall pleasant recollections to a few of the "Pen's*' inmates. Morris A. Tobin will invade Dreamland at the Island this summer with a new idea in the form of Moqui Indians exhibit- ing the tribe's dances and tricks, which may amuse. A part of the Midget City site will be turned over for this purpose, hut the midgets will remain a feature, although it is not known where the dwarfs are coming from. There is very little definite information leaking out regarding Dreamland, prin- cipally for the reason that there is noth- ing to tell. No one connected with the management seems to be aware that he is alive, and the nominal manager, ex- Sheriff William J. Buttling, displays more energy in kidding proposed enter- prises than business acumen in investigat- ing. Everything goes to William II. Rey- nolds, who is the head still. L. A. Thompson and George C. Tilyou have completed their partnership agree- ment for Rockaway. The Ingersoll people consider their Winnipeg proposition so favorably that not one dollar of s^tock in it has been t offered for sale. Mr. Rosen will rename it The Tri-City, it is understood, opening on Decoration Day. II. Roltaire has returned from Loudon, where he went some weeks ago to visit Imre Kiralfy at his new resort to be located at Sheppard's Bush. Mr. Rol- taire makes no announcement, and it is suspected that he wanted a sea ride. Charles A. Cummings, the Wild West man who can "land on his feet" more of- ten than any showman in the business, will put a new Indian Congress into Jungle Park at Chicago this summer. Sig. Saw telle and Walter L. Main are Mr. Cum- mings' latest financial backers. Joseph J. McCarthy of Dreamland, Coney Island, made a Hying trip to Bos- ton this week. Whenever Mr. McCarthy is seen arounuSsomething usually follows. "Darkness and Dawn" will be put on at Coney's Dreamland this summer instead of "Touring Europe." Arthur Voegtlin, the scenic artist, is ar- ranging for a large production at Luna Park. Luna Park may have a Wild West ex- hibition this season. George A. Dodge, manager of Paragon Park at Nantasket Beach, near Boston, is in town booking attractions. Will Hill, the high wire walker, has been engaged through Meyerhoff at 200 East Eleventh street, who is routing the time for a chain of parks. The Friede "Globe Tower," called "A Department Store of Amusement," has got- ten out a prospectus which is an attrac- tion in itself. The details are carefully given in the booklet, but it is the induce- ments offered to the intending investor through purchase of the stock of the enter- prise that causes the smiles to ripple over the countenances of those "in the know." The regular summer attendance at Coney Island is estimated at twenty-two mil- lions, which is probably fairly correct, but from then on the financial figures are jum- bled together until the net profit for the The Ghas. K. Harris Courier Devoted to the interest* of Song* and Singei* Address all communications to (HAS. K. HARRIS. 81 W. Slst St., N. Y. (Meyer Cohen, Mgr.) Vol. 1. New York. March S, 1906. No. 8. Notwithstanding t n e heated controversy that has been going on in the dally papers be- tween Mr. Dave Lewis, who sang "Mother, Pin a Rose On Me." at Proctor'a 23d St. The- atre, and Mr. Dan McAvoy, who sang the same song at I'roctor'a 58th street bouse, the fact remains that both these people are sing- ing the song and will continue to sing it, aa Is also "Single" Billy Clifford, who has been creating a positive sensation at Hurtlg ft Seamon's Music Hall the past week, and ao can any one who wish- es to sing thla song, as all restrictions have been positively re- moved and any one can sing it. As these gentlemen are contin- ually playing the dlf- f e r e n t vaudeville houses, there is no way whereby they can conflict with each other, and as there are over five hundred vaudeville houses, there are plenty thea- tres for any legitimate artist to uBe this enor- mous success. If you haven't got enough verses in the regular song, you can write your own. Profession- al coplea and orches- trations are now ready. As we predicted some time ago that HENRY ft OALLOTT'S going together again as part- ners would create a sensation in the illus- trating line haa come true, for they certain- ly did create the big- gest sensation ever created In a New York theatre last Sunday night at Ted Marks' Concert with the sing- ing of the phenomenal baritone, Harry Henry, and the mov- ing pictures and illus- trations thrown upon the canvas by George F. Gallott, with the new march song hit entitled "Sister." Mr. Henry, after repeated encores, was compelled to make a speech be- fore the show was al- lowed to proceed. They now have In prepara- tion Mr. Harris' new song, "The Belle of the Ball," with mov- ing pictures, beauti- fully colored, on which they have spent a great deal of time and money, and we predict for it the same enor- mous success as they had last Sunday night with "Sister." season for the "Globe" is given as $1,- 122,250, with an investment of $973,500. The operating expenses are to be $230,750, and everything considered, it seems foolish to let the general public in on a good thing" like this. So few enterprises are able to pay one hundred and twenty-five per cent, in dividends. F. \V. Henninger, treasurer of the West View Park Company of Pittsburg, em- phatically denies the rumor in a recent number of Variety that work had been stopped on this park. He says bis com- pany is spending at least $1,000 a day get- ting ready for the opening, which takes place May 10, and that they have already booked seventy-five picnics for the coming season, which of itself is sufficient to in- sure the success of the enterprise. The Pittsburg traction companies also, it is stated, are investing at least $75,000 in a supply storage plant, switches, loading platforms, etc., to enable them to take care of the extra traffic they expect when the park is in operation. VARIETY THEATRES OF GREATER NEW YORK MANHATTAN. ATLANTIC GARDEN, Bowery Concert 8P.IL ALHAMBRA, 7th Ave. and 125th St Vaudeville 2 and 8 P. M. CI RCLE, Broadway and 60th St Burlesque 2 and 8 P. M. COLONIAL, Broadway and 63d St Vaudeville 2 and 8 P. M. DEWEY, 14th St Burlesque 2 and 8 P. M. FAMILY, East 125th St Vaudeville 2 and 8 P. M. GOTHAM, East 125th St Burlesque 2 and 8 P. M. HUBTI0 & SEAMON'S, West 125th St Vaudeville 2:30 and 8:30 P. M. HAMMERSTEINS, Times Sq Vaudeville 2 and 8 P. M. HUBERS, 14th St Museum Continuous. HIPPODROME, 6th Ave. and 44th St Variety 2 and 8 P. M. KEITH'S, 14th St Vaudeville Continuous. LONDON. Bowery Burlesque 2 and 8 P. M. MINER'S BOWERY, Bowery Burlesque 2 and 8 P. M*. MINER'S 8TH AVE., 8th Ave. and 27th St Burlesque 2 and 8 P. M*. PALACE, Amsterdam Ave Vaudeville 2 and 8 P. M. PASTOR'S, 14th St j,... Vaudeville Continuous. PROCTORS 58TH STREET, 3d Ave and 58th St. Vaudeville 2:15 and 8:16 P. M. PROCTOR'S 23D STREET, West 23d St Vaudeville 2:15 and 8:15 P. M. BROOKLYN. AMPHION, Bedford Ave Vaudeville 2:15 and ALCAZAR, Washington St Burlesque 2 and 8 (JAIETY, Broadway Burlesque GOTHAM, East New York Vaudeville .2 .2 and 8 and 8 There will be a lesser number of new .parks in operation this summer than for Max Rosen has taken over the park at Albany, which has Ix'en on the market, af- ter passing into the hands of a receiver. HYDE & BEHMAN, Adams St Vaudeville 2 and 8 IMPERIAL, Fulton St Vaudeville 2 and 8 KKF.NEY'S. upper Fulton St ; Vaudeville 2:15 and NASSAU. Wlllotighby St Burlesque 2 and 8 NOVELTY. Drlggs Ave Vaudeville 2 and 8 ORPHEUM, Fulton St Vaudeville 2:15 and STAR. Jay St Burlesque 2 and 8 UNIQUE, Grand St Burleaque 2 and 8 8:15 P. M. P. M\ P. M. P.M. P.M. P.M. 8:15 P. M. P. M. P. M. 8:15 P. If. P. M\ P. ML x